UPDATE FEB 16 2008:RICHARD ZEDNIK HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL TODAY.=========================UPDATE : FEB 15 2008BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Richard Zednik today released a statement through Buffalo General Hospital thanking the Western New York community and hockey fans from around the world for their support.

"I want to thank everyone for their tremendous support this week. All of the fans, my teammates, the Panthers and Sabres organizations and the people of Buffalo have been great. I especially want to thank the nursing and medical staff at Buffalo General Hospital -- they have been by my side every step of the way. Jessica and I thank everyone for respecting our privacy and we both look forward to returning to Florida soon."

Zednik, 32, suffered an arterial laceration during the Buffalo Sabres-Florida Panthers game Sunday night (February 10th) at the HSBC Arena. On Tuesday (February 12th), he was upgraded to good condition and moved from the intensive care unit to a private room at the Buffalo General Hospital.================================UPDATE Feb 14 08: ZEDNIK'S CONDITION IS IMPROVING AND HE IS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL BY THIS WEEKEND. TSN said that he may return as early as next season.===============================UPDATE Feb 11 08: ZEDNIK'S CONDITION HAS BEEN UPDATED TO "GOOD".===============================Olli Jokinen is upended and his skate cuts teammate Richard Zednik in the neck.

He would skate to the bench with assistance and collapsed in the hallway.

HE IS IN STABLE CONDITION UNDERGOING SURGERY AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL in BUFFALO.